Rotaey drilling apparatus



Mar. 13, 1923.

L. H. WELLENSIEK ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS 15, 1921 6 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Apr.

Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,172

L. H. WELLENSlEK ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Apr. 15, 1921 6 sheets-sheet 5 Qwwewtoz AMMM Mom wa Mar. 13, 1923.

L. H. WELLENSIEK ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Apr. 15, 1921 6 sheets-sheet 4 avwewc oz 4M; H. kw

Mar. 13, 1923.

L. H. WELLENSIEK ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Apr.

15 1921 6 sheets-sheet 5 Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,172 L. H. WELLENSIEK ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed Apr. 15, 1921 6 sheets-sheet 6 Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

UNITED STATES LOUIS H. WELLENSIEK, 0F HOUSTON, TEXAS.

ROTARY DRILLILYG- APPARATUS.

Application filed April 15, 1921.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I. LoUisH. VVELLEN smx, a citizen of the United States, residing in Houston, county of Harris, and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Drilling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in rotary drilling apparatus which is closely related to, and constitutes an improvement of, the type of drilling mechanism shown and described in my application for Patent- Serial #417975, filed October 19, 1920.

In the earlier application I have disclosed an apparatus adapted for drilling wells where the formation encountered is shifting and has a tendency to cave in and fill up the bore of the well. The mechanism described in that application includes among other features two concentric strings of pipe and means for rotating the same, the outer pipe or casing being provided to hold back the shifting strata of earth and the inner string or drill stem being provided to drill the hole in advance of the casing both strings of pipe being rotated through the instrumentality of a rotary 0n the surface of the ground. The present invention represents a modification of the former application in that separate means is provided for rotating each string of pipe and the apparatus is so constructed that joints of pipe may be added to the outer casing while it is in motion thereby avoiding any stoppage of the rotation. of that casing while the shifting stratum is being penetrated.

The invention has particular reference to certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts an example of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention and constituting an embodiment thereof.

Figure 2 is a plan view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1. a a

Figure 3 is an elevation partially in section drawn to a larger scale than Figure 1 and showing the mechanism attached to the outer casing for rotating and handling same.

Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3. 4

Figure 5 is a detailed elevation showing Serial No. 461,593.

the top of an auxiliary derrick and illustrating the rotary for the drill stem.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section of a modified form of hopper from that shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the grip ring mechanism for the outer casing.

Figure 8 is an elevation thereof.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the casing head employed.

Figure 10 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 11 is a top view of a clamp which is used when attaching additional joints to the outer casing.

Figure 12 is a side view thereof.

Figure 13 is a. vertical sectional view thereof taken n the line 1313 of Figure 11.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to Figures 1 and 3 it will be seen that a derrick 20 is provided which may be of the usual form and construction commonly used in drilling wells. An auxiliary derrick 21 is also provided being arranged within the derrick 20 and of less height than the outer derrick. The derrick 21 is preferably constructed of such height that it may conveniently be used in handling a ioint of pipe of customary length. In the well bore there is the surface casing 22 which extends to cap rock or to some point above the shifting strata. Within. the surface casing is the depth casing 23 which is rotatable and in the operation of the drill is carried down through the shifting strata simultaneously with the movement of the drill bit. The drill stem 24 is positioned within the depth casing 23. y

The depth casing is rotated by means of a rotary 25 which is mounted on the floor of the derricks and rotated by means of'a pinion 26 carried on a shaft 27 upon which is mounted a sprocket wheel 28 to which power may be supplied from any suitable source. The rotary 25 includes a platform 29 which is of such diameter that it will accommodate the men employed in attaching new joints to the depth casing.

The gripping mechanism which is-carried by the rotary table 25 in order that the depth casing may be rotated thereby comprises a double grip ring frame 30 which is illustrated in detail in Figures 7 and 8. The frame is preferably constructed of two parts as 30 and 30*, the parts bein joined together by means of bolts 31. K double set of grip rings are provided each set consisting of the four rings 32, the rings being arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the casing 23 and adapted to engage therewith. Each pair of rings 32'is mounted on a shaft The shafts are slidable in transverse bearings 34 and the ends of each shaft are secured in the adjusting blocks 35. Adjusting screws 36 the opposite ends of" which are threaded in order to engage in threaded holes within the blocks 35 are provided. By rotating the adjusting screws each pair of shafts 33 may be moved transversely so as to move the grip rings 32 to and from en gagement with the depth casing 23. It is preferable to'have the two sets of grip rings so that as the casing 23 descends one set of rings at a time may be released from engagement with the pipe to allow the pipe collar or coupling to pass through while the other set. is in engagement with the pipe. The grip ring frame, 30 is attached to the rotary table 29 in any suitable manner; as illustrated, the frame is provided with notches 37 adapted to be engaged by lugs on the rotary table.

The. depth casing is equipped with a swivel mechanism such as the swivel casing 38 which is preferably cup shaped and is provided with extensions 39 (as shown in Figure 4) by which the swivel may .be suspended by meansof'cables 40 carried on crown blocks 41 positioned'at the upper part of the auxiliary derrick 21; In the arrangement illustrated each cable 40 carries a traveling block42 to which an extension 39 is connected as by means of aturnbuckle 42.

The turnbuckles enable any adjustment that.

may be necessary on account of any variations in the length of the suspending cables.

The casing 38 forms. a housing for the bearing. plates 43 and 44 and bearings 45. As shown in the drawing, the bearing plate 43 has a universal movement on the casing 37 thus insuring that the swivel will not bind orcramp the casing 38. The form of swivel shown has the further advantage that the pressure on the bearings is equalized thus insuring free rotation of the bearings and preventing excess, wear. The casing 38 is held in contact with, the swivel members by means of wedgeslips 46.

Suitably arranged to receive fluid discharged from the depth casing is a hopper 47. As shown in Figure 3 the hopper has a central opening 48' through which the casing 23 is adapted to pass, the hopper being provided with an internal wall 49 which extends upwardly about the casing 23 for a distance sufficient to give the hopper adequate capacity'to accommodate the fluid received from. the casing. The upper part of the wall 49 is .fiared outwardly from the pipe 23. The top joint of the casing is provided with a bell nipple 50 having its edge sufiiciently flared to prevent any substantial amount of fluid from dripping down the pipe 23 and insuring the discharge ofsame into the hopper. An outlet pipe 51 is pro vided for discharging the contents of the hopper as may be desired.

In Figure 6 a'modified form of hopper is shown. In this type of construction a hopper 4' is provided with an opening 48 of such diameter that the couplings of the pipe joints may pass through. A spring pressed collar 52 fits closely about the casing 23. As illustrated, a spring 53 anchored on a stationary lug 54 is guided by a pin 55 and bears against a lug 56 on the collar 52. The tension of the spring 53 tends to press the collar 52 snugly against the casing 23 and whenever a coupling on the bipe 23 comes in contactwith this collar it is pushed back against the resiliency of the spring and with the collar 52 thus expanded the pipe coupling may readily pass through the bottom of the hopper. I

The drill stem 24 is driven by a. rotary 57 which is mounted on the top of the auxiliary derrick. The rotary is operated by any suitable mechanism such as a pinion carried on a shaft 58, the latter shaft being provided with a gear wheel 59 by whichpower may be transmitted to the shaft by means of the chain belt 60. The belt 60 extends to a sprocket wheel 61 mounted'on a. shaft 62 to which power is supplied by means of a drive chain carried on the sprocket wheel 63. The shaft 62 also serves to supply power to a drum 64 by means of. chain belts 65 and sprocket wheels 66 and 67. The drum carries a cable 68 which extends to a crown block located at the top of the derrick 20, the crown block carrying. a cable 69 by which the drill stem 24 is supported. As shown in Figure 1 the drill stem is provided with a swivel 70 of conventional type and a hose 71 for supplying water to the drill stem. The shaft 62 serves to drive a shafti'2 by means of a chain drive 73 and sprocket wheels 74 and 75. The shaft 72 carries a drum 7 6 which is preferably constructed-of two equal parts each of which carries. a cable 7? which extends to one of the crown blocks 41.

During the operation of the drill water under pressure is forced into the drill stem 24 through the hose 71. At the lower termination of the drill stem is an under-reaming bit by which a bore of greaterdiameter than the drill stem may be constructed thus permitting the rotating casing 23 to be moved downward with the rotation o'f'the drill. The water forced into the drill stem carries away the cuttings from the drilling tool and the resulting mud laden fluid passes up through the annular space between-the drillstem 24 and depth casing 23'and is dis charged into the hopper 47.

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It is necessary that provision be made for preventing the fiuid from returning to the ground surface on the outside of the depth casing. In other words a tight joint must be made between the surface casing 22 and depth casing 23. In order to provide this tight joint and at the same time permit the couplings which connect the several joints of the depth casing to pass downward with in the surface casing a special type of casing head has been provided which is illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. Fastened to the upper end of the surface casing 22 by means of a coupling 7 8 there is a tubular head 79 which flares downwardly and which is provided with vertical grooves 80 in its inner ,wall. Within the head 79there is a sectional ring formed of the arcuate sections 81 which have peripheral ribs adapted to slide in the grooves 80. This ring is designed to fit closely around the depth casing 23 forming a water tight joint therewith and is formed in sections to make it expansible so that as the casing descends the couplings connecting the joints thereof may pass through. Within the casing 22 there is a ring 82 formed with bearings through which the rods '83 move. The upper ends of the rods are attached to the arcuate sections 81 and the lower ends are attached to a mov able ring 84. The sliding ring 82 is attached to the stationary ring 84 by means of springs 85. When the pipe coupling strikes against the sections 81 of the ring they are moved downward and the ring is expanded thus allowing the collar to pass through. The

springs 85 are thus placed under tension and 'when the collar has passed they will force the sectional ring 81 back to position thus creating a water tight joint between the depth casing 23 and the surface casing 22.

As drilling progresses the depth casing 23 descends into the bore of the Well and from time to time additional joints must be connected to this casing.v When it is desired to connect another joint a clamp or grip collar 86 is mounted upon the grip ring casing 30. This collar is illustrated in detail in Figures ll, 12, and 13. As shown in the drawings the collar 86 is formed of two sections 86* and 86 each section having oppositely arranged outwardly turned ears 87 which are adapted to be clamped together by means of bolts 88 which pass through the cars 87. The bolts are secured by means of grip handles 89. The operative end of each grip handle is bifurcated and a transverse bearing pin 90, anchored in the respective fingers of the handle, passes through a notch in the bolt. The pin 90 is fitted into the notch in the bolt and the handle 89 is depressed. The inner end of the handle is cam shaped and by depressing the same the sections of the grip collar are pulled closely together so that the teeth 91 engage with the casing, the grip collar thereby holding the casing suspended in the bore.

In drilling a well it may be preferable to use drilling apparatus of conventional form until the shifting stratum has been reached. At this point theapparatus described herein is brought into use. The drill stem andthe depth casing are rotated and water is forced into the drill stem through the pipe 71, the mud laden fluid containing the borings of the drill returning to the surface through the depth casing and being discharged into the hopper. The under-reaming bit operates to produce a hole of diameter sufficient to allow the depth casing to pass down-- Ward simultaneously with the downward movement of the drill. N

Whenever it is necessary to add new joints to the drill stem and depth casing the clamp.-

86 is mounted on the grip ring casing 30 and attached to the casing 23 while this casing is in motion. The rotation of the drill stem is stopped and it is elevated so that the top joint or grief stemmay be raised above the rotary table 57. After slacking off on the cable 40 to permit the removal of the slips 45 and after removing the nipple 50 the swivel 38- is elevated above the casing 22-5 and is attached to the drill stem 22 by means of suitable wedge slips, the connection being made at some convenient point below the grief stem. After disconnecting the grief stem and setting it aside a new joint of pipe for the casing 23 is lowered through the upper rotary over the drill stem. Slips are then placed in the upper rotary to attach the drill stem thereto, the cable 40 is slackened and the slips holding the drill stem to the swivel 38 are removed. The swivel is raised to near the upper part of the new joint of casing, the slips 15 inserted, the new oint lowered and attached to the string of casing. The clamp 86 may then be removed. A new joint is added to the drill stem and the latter is lowered into the bore for approximately the distance of one joint of pipe. The grief stem is then connected to the drill stem and drilling resumed. During the entire operation of adding the new joints to the drill stem and depth casing the outer casing is constantly being rotated, although at a reduced speed, if necessary, to

accommodate the operators when engaged in l'lO separate means for form may then be employed for the furthe deepening of the Well,

Although the invention lia's'b'ee'n" described herein particularly as applied in drilling through shifting formations'it will he recognized by those skilled in the art that the in Vention is susceptible of ser'ving' m any other functions. adapted to drilling through st'ra'ta character ized-by high gas pressure since the rotating; casing 23 cases the bore of the Well as drill in'gfprogresses. The practice of my invention is advantageous Whenever it is desirable to case the hole simultaneously with the downwardinoveinent of the drill. v

Apparatus of preferred form and coli struc'tion'has heen illustrated and described for the purpose oi? showing a way in which this invention may be used, but the inventive thought upon which the application is based, is broader than this illiisti'atii e em ho'dirnen't thereof, and I} therefore" intend no limitations other thanthoseimposed lify the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is v 1 In a Well drilling apparatus, two concentric strings of pipe in a Well here and rotating each string of pipe. p

2. In a well drilling appzi "atus, two concentric strings of pipe in a'. well bore, separate means for rotating each string of pipe and means for attaching a joint to'the outer pipe While same is being rotated. I I

3Q In a Well drilling"apparatus, a rotarytable, a string of pipearranged t0 lie'rotated by said rotary table, adrillste'in'positione'd Within said string of pipe and independent means for rotating. said'drill stem: i

4. In a Well drilling apparatus, a rotary' table, a stringof pipe arrangedto bero'tiited thereby, a" swivel for said string of pip s hopper positioned at the upper end otsa'id string of pipe and"adt p t ed to receivefliiid dischargedtherefrom, a drill stern positioned For example,- it is"s'pecially Within said string of pipe and independent positioned within said outer casing, means for rotatingsame and a hopper positioned on the swivel of the outer casing.

7. In a Well-drilling apparatus, an outer casing ,-Ine}ans for rotating same, a drill stein positioned within said outer casing, means for rotating same and means for removing the fluid discharged from tlie outercasing;

8, In a well drilling apparatus, two" concentric strings of pipe in a Well bore, separate means for rotating eachst'r'ini; of pipe, a main derrick, an auxiliary de rick"positioned Within the niaiii derrick, supporting means forone' of the strings of pipeatt'ached to the main derrick, and supporting means for the'otlier' string of pipe attached to theauxiliary derrick. I 9. In it Well drilling apparatus tivo concentric strings of pipe adapted for rotation in awell bore, a'niain derrick, an auxiliary derrick positioned'withinsaid main derrick, a rotary for the inner pipe positioned on the auxiliary derrick,- arota'rV for the outer pipe, adjustable supporting means for the outer pipe a-ttachedto auxiliary derrick and adjustable supporting means for the inner pipe attached to tlieniain derrick.

- 10. In a Well diilliiig'apparatus, two concentric strings of pipe in a Well bore, separ ate'me'ans' for rotating each of pipe and means for lowering-eachstring of pipe simultaneously.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set niy hand a'ridseal this 29th day of h la'rch, 19 21.

noUIsi-I; WELEENSIEK. 1). 8. 

